The undefeated white filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), once again defeated arch-rival Satono Reinas (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin on Sunday. The order of finish had been the same in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December and both fillies were making their 3-year-old bows. It was also a new course record of 1:31.10 for the 1600 metres, breaking the mark set by Black Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) in 2017.
Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 versus Satono Reinas's 2-1 favouritism, the striking white filly jumped well and found an ideal position tracking Stutti (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) from the fence in second. Passed by several foes to sit fourth entering the far turn, Sodashi split horses in upper stretch, took command from distance relation and new leader Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) at the 200-metre mark and flashed home to win by a neck.
Satono Reinas broke a step slowly from the widest gate in 18, and was trapped very wide near the rear of the field for the backstretch run. She started to weave up in between horses by the 300-metre mark, and let down strongly out in the centre of the course to just miss. Fine Rouge (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) also rallied well from midfield to take third, a half-length back. Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was another neck back in fourth.
“It's a great feeling,” said pilot Hayato Yoshida, who was celebrating his first Classic win and third Group 1 win. “There was a lot of pressure with many doubting how strong a white filly could be, so I'm thrilled we were able to prove them wrong. I was a bit worried that the fast track would be a disadvantage, but she responded beautifully and ran well holding off the others closing in on us which I saw and made me driver her to the wire. Her potential is limitless and I look forward to her future starts.”
Sodashi won on debut at Hakodate going 1800 metres on July 12 and stepped up to take the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. on Sept. 5. She added yet another win in the G3 Artemis S. at Tokyo on Halloween cutting back to 1600 metres for the first time and sealed her championship season with a victory over her rival Satono Reinas in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Dec. 13.
Pedigree Notes
The first foal out of the four-time winner and popular painted wonder Buchiko, Sodashi has a 2-year-old full-sister. Her dam is a half-sister to Japanese MSW Yukichan (Jpn) (Kurofune), the granddam of G2 Tulip Sho, G3 Kokura Nisai S. and G3 Fantasy S. heroine Meikei Yell (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who ran last in the Japanese 1000 Guineas behind Sodashi on Sunday. Buchiko was barren to the cover of Maurice (Jpn) for 2020, but returned to that stallion last spring.
Fourth dam Storm and Sunshine (Star de Naskra), who struck in the 1986 GII Test S. and GIII Post-Deb S., foaled GII Bel Air H. hero Smile Again (Wild Again), SW & MGSP Halo Sunshine (Halo) and SW & MGSP Montecito (Seeking the Gold). The last-named threw SW and G3 Give Thanks S. and G3 Athasi S. runner-up Bunairgead (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥237,870,000, Hanshin, 4-11, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:31.10 (NCR), fm.
1–SODASHI (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Kurofune
1st Dam: Buchiko (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shirayukihime (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Wave Wind, by Topsider
O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Naosuke
Sugai; J-Hayato Yoshida. ¥131,859,000. Lifetime Record: Ch.
2yo Filly-Jpn, 5-5-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Satono Reinas (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Balada Sale (Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
2nd Dam: La Balada (Arg), by Confidential Talk
3rd Dam: La Baraca (Arg), by Mariache II (Arg)
(¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Satomi Horse Company;
B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,170,000.
3–Fine Rouge (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)
1st Dam: Passion Rouge (Jpn), by Boston Harbor
2nd Dam: Sexy Coconuts (Jpn), by Dance in the Dark (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Coco Passion (Fr), by Groom Dancer
(¥33,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Genichi Mutsui; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); ¥29,595,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NK. Odds: 2.60, 2.30, 14.30.
Also Ran: Akaitorino Musume (Jpn), Art de Vivre (Jpn), Kukuna (Jpn), Stutti (Jpn), Enthusiasm (Jpn), Ho O Ixelles (Jpn), Minnie Isle (Jpn), Ginestra (Jpn), Dtripe (Jpn), Elizabeth Tower (GB), Blue Bird (Jpn), Songline (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Yoka Yoka (Jpn), Meikei Yell (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
